The photos that inspired
this tribute are from my dad's collection and many are Official Royal Canadian
Naval Photographs offered to the crew of the Prince Robert. Picture orders
were taken on board ship during the journey back from Hong Kong. They sold
for approximately 10 cents apiece. I have included the negative numbers
under each photo. Click
on most of these pictures to see a full screen-size enlargement.

The descriptive text
accompanying this HMCS Prince Robert Photo Gallery was transcribed from
the Hillman Video Library Tape #59, which contains an interview with my
father, Chief Petty Officer Robert Gerald (Jerry) Hillman conducted on
August 28, 1982. He died of cancer a few months later. He was reluctant
to talk much about the war years... and there were so many more questions
I should have asked. I miss him...

I would like to hear
from anyone who has memories, photos or information to share about the
ROBERT.
~~
William Gerald Hillman
~~

A
WWII RCN PHOTO GALLERYH.M.C.S.
PRINCE ROBERT 1945

"The PRINCE ROBERT was
the most noteworthy of three of the most unusual ships to sail. She metamorphosed
more times than a butterfly. Originally designed as a fast coastal ferry,
she later became a cruise ship, an AMC, an A/A cruiser, a refugee transport,
and finally, a luxurious ocean liner.

As evidence of her
basic speed, strength and endurance, saw more of the world, sailed more
operational miles and had longer sea times than any other ship in the RCN.
For most of the war it was the largest and most heavily armed ship in the
Canadian Navy.

In 1941 the ROBERT
was attached to New Zealand as convoy protection for the airmen coming
to Canada for the Commonwealth Air Training
Plan. She then escorted the Canadian troops to Hong Kong in the ill-fated
plan to defend the port against the Japanese. Before her 1943 conversion,
ROBERT spent her time looking for enemy merchant shipping where she successfully
captured the German ship, M.S. Weser. She was then converted to an AA ship,
and escorted convoys in the Mediterranean and was even put under US command
for a period of time for operations in the Aleutians. In July, 1945, she
went to join the British Pacific Fleet, and in August arrived in Hong Kong
to facilitate the release of the Canadian POWs and to have her Captain
represent Canada at the surrender ceremonies.

Altogether, the ROBERT
served five years as a warship and the best part of 26 additional years
as a passenger vessel. She spent her last 15 years as an Italian luxury
liner. Her record, full of diverse and original assignments, strange encounters,
and duty faithfully done, will long endure."